Does Your Commercial Janitorial Company Observe These New Standards?

President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order in January directing federal regulators to update and strengthen workplace safety guidelines during the pandemic. It is expected to change what employers and facility operators will be required to do to keep their employees and visitors safe.

Within the Order, there is also a call for stricter enforcement and increased penalties for public buildings and private companies if they fail to comply. Since there are new rules, you need to ensure your commercial janitorial company can meet the latest standards you are required to follow to keep your facility free from germs and bacteria.

Employees Expect Daily Cleaning and Disinfecting

When it comes to the workplace, employees have high expectations of employers. Even the release of a COVID vaccine has not significantly changed employee expectations. A survey commissioned by OpenWorks shows that 73% of employees believe their workplace should be cleaned daily, and 62% said it should be cleaned and disinfected daily.

While you might think these expectations would lessen over time as people got used to dealing with the pandemic and vaccines are released, that is not the case. In the initial survey that was conducted in May 2020, 57% of employees said they expect their workplace to be cleaned and disinfecting daily.

More than three-quarters of employees also said it is important to use commercial janitorial companies that employ trained and certified professional technicians. These are the factors the majority of employees ranked as the most important services a commercial janitorial company should provide for workplaces.

• Frequent disinfection and cleaning of high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs and light switches
• Use of EPA-approved antimicrobial disinfecting products
• Cleaners who are certified in cleaning disinfection through a governing authority
• Immediate test results that show bacteria and germs have been eliminated
• Use of a sprayer, fogger, or mister to apply disinfectant on all surfaces

Does your commercial janitorial company do this for you? If not, you may want to consider switching to a company like OpenWorks. OpenWorks offers commercial janitorial services and follows guidelines from leading authorities, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), on processes, equipment, and products — all in an effort to reduce the spread of germs and infections.

New Guidelines for Biohazards

New guidelines on biohazards in the workplace detail infection and contamination control measures to deal with infectious diseases such as the coronavirus. Anyone cleaning your workplace or facilities should be trained on the best practices and latest techniques for creating a healthy environment. These include:

• Prevention, response, infection control, and contamination control measures
• Proper cleaning and disinfection techniques
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, and equipment
• Use of cleaning agents and disinfectants based on Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance (EPA)

Check to be sure your commercial janitorial company is trained and certified on these practices, and also verify that they are using the proper equipment. These are some protocols they should be following:

• Collection tanks for floor care should be emptied when full, with special attention paid to the disposal of contents. Tanks should be cleaned regularly.
• High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters should be used in all vacuums, and they should be cleaned and replaced regularly.
• The outer surfaces of all hoses should be wiped down and the inside cleaned following treatments.
• Brushes should always be cleaned and disinfected and allowed to dry between cleanings.
• Any machine part that comes in contact with surfaces or floors should be cleaned and disinfected after any application, including cords.
• All high-touch areas on equipment, such as handles, grips, or buttons, should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

These standards are necessary to keep cleaning equipment free from COVID and avoid cross-contamination. You can count on the OpenWorks’ elite network of service providers to follow the best practices and guidelines.

Continuous Care for Your Facility

OpenWorks also offers Continuous Care, a cutting-edge, long-lasting antimicrobial coating and surface protectant. When applied by properly trained technicians after cleaning and disinfecting has been completed, it provides continuous protection from bacteria and microorganisms for up to 90 days. Using an electrostatic sprayer ensures 100% coverage and can inhibit the growth of germs that lead to illness.

Does Your Commercial Janitorial Company Observe These Standards?

As new regulations are introduced, it will be even more important that cleaning technicians be trained on best practices and techniques. This means you need to use a commercial janitorial company that uses highly trained technicians to meet the new stringent standards as well as employee expectations.

Contact OpenWorks to get an estimate for cleaning, disinfection, infection control, and continuous care services for your facility.